78 nonprofits to participate in Great Fish fundraiser
A record number of Flathead Valley nonprofit organizations will participate in the 9th annual Great Fish Community Challenge hosted by Whitefish Community Foundation August 10 to Sept. 15.
The Great Fish Community Challenge is a charitable giving campaign in which donors can choose to give to multiple nonprofit organizations with a single transaction. At the conclusion of the campaign, Whitefish Community Foundation will award a percentage match on the first $20,000 raised by each participating organization. Nonprofits must raise at least $10,000 to be eligible for the match. The match is made possible by Whitefish Community Foundation’s Circle of Giving donors, as well as donors who designate their gift to the Great Fish Match Fund.
Nonprofits interested in participating in the 2023 Challenge applied through a comprehensive application process this spring. Seventy-eight organizations were invited to participate in the Challenge, an 11 percent increase over last year. Six organizations are participating for the first time.
The following organizations will participate in this year’s Great Fish Community Challenge:
Abbie Shelter
Amazing Place Music
Backpack Assistance Program
Big Brothers Big Sisters NW Montana
Bigfork Art and Cultural Center
Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation
Boys and Girls Club of Glacier Country
CASA for Kids
Center for Restorative Youth Justice
Child Bridge
Children’s House Montessori School
Code Girls United
Conrad Mansion Museum
Creston Firefighters Association
DREAM Adaptive Recreation
Flathead Area Mountain Bikers
Flathead Audubon Society
Flathead County Sheriff's Posse
Flathead Food Bank
Flathead Industries
Flathead Land Trust
Flathead Rapids Youth Soccer
Flathead Rivers Alliance
Flathead Valley Community College Foundation
Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation
Flathead Warming Center
Flathead Youth Home
Foy's to Blacktail Trails
Friends of the Flathead Avalanche Center
Gateway to Glacier Trail
Glacier Hockey Association
Glacier Institute
Glacier National Park Conservancy
Glacier Nordic Club
Glacier Skate Academy
Glacier Symphony, Orchestra & Chorale
Good Grief Camp
Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley
Hockaday Museum of Art
Housing Whitefish
Humane Society of Northwest Montana
ImagineIF Library Foundation
Immanuel Foundation
Intermountain Deaconess Children's Services
Kalispell Education Foundation
Land to Hand
Lighthouse Christian Home & Services
Logan Health Foundation
Logan Health-Whitefish Foundation
Montana Conservation Corps
Montana Kayak Academy
Montana Youth Diabetes Alliance
Nate Chute Foundation
North Valley Food Bank
North Valley Music School
North West Montana Veterans Food Pantry
Northwest Montana Community Land Trust
Northwest Montana History Museum
Project Whitefish Kids
Ravenwood Outdoor Learning Center
Samaritan House
Shepherd's Hand
Sparrow's Nest of NW MT
Stumptown Art Studio
Tamarack Grief Resource Center
The Nurturing Center
Two Bear Therapeutic Riding Center
Whitefish Community Center
Whitefish Community Foundation
Whitefish Dog Park
Whitefish Firefighters Association
Whitefish Lake Institute
Whitefish Legacy Partners
Whitefish Review
Whitefish School District Education Foundation
Whitefish Theatre Company
Whitefish Veterans Support Team
Wings Regional Cancer Support
Since 2015, the Great Fish Community Challenge has raised over $22 million for more than 85 local nonprofit organizations. In addition to the percentage matching grant awarded on the first $20,000 raised by each nonprofit, Whitefish Community Foundation awards thousands of dollars in incentive grants throughout the campaign.
There is no cost for nonprofits to participate in the Challenge. Whitefish Community Foundation underwrites the cost of hosting the campaign with support from title sponsor BNSF and additional sponsors Big Sky IV Care, First Interstate Bank, Glacier Bank, Harris Financial, Iron Horse Foundation, JCCS, Park Side Credit Union, Stockman Bank, Summit Beverage, Underscore Art & Jewelry, and Whitefish Credit Union.
This year’s campaign will kick off with the Great Fish Launch Party on Thursday, August 10 at 5:30 p.m. at First Interstate Bank in Whitefish. Donors who make a gift of $100 or more at the Launch Party to one participating nonprofit will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win one of 10 $100 matching grants for their designated organization. From August 10 to September. 15, there will be many opportunities for donors to give to the campaign and help their favorite charities earn more incentive grants.
The Great Fish Fun Run & Community Celebration is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 9 in Depot Park in Whitefish. The event will include 5K and one-mile fun runs, a tot trot, lunch from Piggyback BBQ, a nonprofit fair and the presentation of awards and prizes. Registration for Great Fish Fun Run opens July 15 at runsignup.com/great-fish-fun-run.
For more information about the Great Fish Community Challenge, visit whitefishcommunityfoundation.org/great-fish or call (406) 863-1781.